Wheel of the YearOn May 4, 2025 by Priestess Dawn

ABOUT SABBAT DATES
If you were to look up Sabbat dates online or in books you will find variations.  The Quarter Days (equinoxes and solstices) are fairly universally accepted as varying year to year depending on the exact moment of the equinox or solstice.  However, for some reason (I suspect ignorance and laziness) the Cross-Quarter days are not given the same respect.  Modern practitioners seem to prefer to give an absolute calendar date for Imbolg, Beltaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain (though, even those dates vary between traditions). 
 
If you have been reading these emails over the years, you know I work with the actual cosmic timing for ALL Sabbats.  However, Beltaine and Samhain are special cases – being very powerful Sabbats – in which I recognize three dates.  The three Beltaine dates are listed below.
 
PREFACE
To start with, we know that two constellations in particular were held in high esteem by the ancients, both mythologically and as time markers: 
 
Cosmic Coven (aka the Pleiades)
Caer Arianrhod (aka Corona Borealis)
 
References to these constellations are found amongst the Celts, GrecoRomans, Germanic peoples, and Egyptians.  The oldest known astronomical rendering found near Nebra in Germany – the Nebra Sky Disc – very clearly depicts the Sun, Moon, and Pleiades, as well as another crescent shape that some feel may represent the boat that ferries the sun through the skies… but I feel it might also represent the Corona Borealis.
 
BELTAINE DATES

May 1 
Beltaine season begins
This is the static Gregorian calendar date given to the Sabbat for convenience. It is an attempt at placing ancient pagan celebrations on a modern Christian calendar. However, given that so many have opted to embrace and celebrate on this date, it has inevitably come to hold some energy.  It has meaning because we give it meaning.
 
This date does not reflect any natural or cosmic cycle point.
This date is Social and corresponds to the Body.
 
May 4 or 5 (ish)
Actual Beltaine – Beltaine season peaks
This is the actual (astrological) date – when the Sun reaches the middle of Taurus – bringing Sabbat energies to their peak. It is the Existential Gate out of the Underworld, when the Soul of Earth is reborn.  
 
This date reflects the position of Sun (and Earth) relative to the Girdle of the Goddess (zodiac).
It is relative to Earth, but operates independent of human made calendars.
This date is Personal and corresponds to the Soul.

May 17 or 18 (ish)
Beltaine season ends
This is the primordial/cosmic date. This is when Caer Arianrhod (aka Corona Borealis or Northern Crown) culminates at midnight. This date likely coincided with the astrological date in ancient times but, with the expansion of the Universe, this date will continue to move further away from the astrological date.
 
This Primordial date gives us a broader perspective.  It is not representative of the experience on Earth, instead it is the experience of Earth (and us) in the ever expanding Goddess.
This date is Primordial and corresponds to the Spirit.